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As union members' cries escalated, one woman ran to the front of the crowd and threw a Labor T-shirt at Mr Lucas, who pressed on despite the attack.

"I've been coming to these rallies for the best part of 30 years," Mr Lucas said above the crowd.

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"We will always have disagreements, but what we agree on is the protection of the Labor Government, second to none."

In Premier Anna Bligh's absence, Mr Lucas was forced to face the wrath of anti-privatisation protesters during the march also.

As Mr Lucas led the unionists through the city streets, about 20 protesters holding oversized cheques heckled Mr Lucas and demanded to know where the money from the sell-off was going.

"Come and get your cheque Paul," they yelled.

"You love money, you're rolling in it!"

David Matters, secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, later confronted Mr Lucas over the state government's plans to sell off $15 billion in state-owned assets, including parts of Queensland Rail.

"We started your party, we founded your party, and funded your party, but we will not accept what you have done," Mr Matters said.

"It is not on!"

As Mr Matters berated Mr Lucas, the minister continued to applaud marchers as they entered the RNA Showgrounds.

"He [Mr Lucas] is trying to look like he is capable of withstanding this, but the outcome is that he is refusing to do what the people of Queensland want and that's unacceptable," Mr Matters later told reporters.

"We've got one of the best bus systems in Australia because we defeated all their attempts to privatise the system. Now they think they can just give it away to corporate business."

Mr Lucas brushed aside the criticism, saying he expected to receive some "character-building" advice from protesters at the march.

"This is democracy in action," he said.

It's character-building and that's part of the job."

He said the government's privatisation scheme would continue as planned, despite the unions' opposition.

"It is going ahead. We have no choice," Mr Lucas said.

One protester fought his way through the media scrum to ask the minister, "Do you believe that the sell-off of our natural resources could cost Labor government?"

Mr Lucas replied, "Unfortunately in government you have to make tough decisions."

"I know that it makes us unpopular and I just have to wear that."

However, he denied Premier Anna Bligh had timed an overseas trade mission to dodge angry confrontations with unions on Labor Day.

"I always like to be in the presence of the premier, but she is creating jobs for Queensland ... that's what she's doing," he said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's reception was a far cry from the hostilities reserved for Mr Lucas.

He told cheering unionists he would not let them retire into poverty, saying a return to a coalition government, led by Tony Abbott, would cost them dearly.

"He'll [Mr Abbott] bring back Work Choices, he stands opposed to 12 per cent super," Mr Rudd said, after marching from the CBD to the city's showgrounds with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union.

Outgoing ACTU president Sharan Burrow told reporters that Labour Day marked the start of a long union campaign to re-elect the Rudd government.

"We're not going back ... today is the start of the campaign in Brisbane - Work Choices, whatever the name, never again. Fundamental rights at work are at threat with Tony Abbott," Ms Burrows said.

She also praised the Federal Government's decision to increase superannuation, in the wake of the Henry tax review.

"We've campaigned for this for a long time. Our people are going to retirement impoverished. We've got to put an end to that," she said.

Ms Burrow also said it was clear there were "some issues" with the Bligh government's plans to privatise public assets.

"We urge the government to sit down with the unions to work it out," she said.